West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1887-10-13


doubt, is opposition to any change in
the war tariff that will affect the great
interests OF his own State-iron and
coal--and hence he Joins heart and
hand with Pig iron Kelly in deplor.
ing and mourning over the TYRANNY
and oppression-especially to the
south-of the whisky and tobacco
tax.
Many men in both parties depreca.
ted the necessity, at the time, OF re.
sorting TO this expedient % raise
money, but it was thought necessary
and was adopted. The internal rev.
enue scheme then embraced very
many subjects OF taxation and it's
operations were in many respects OBJ.
Iectionable and oppressive, but the
most obnoxious features have been
repealed so that now but few instan.
ces occur, and all covered by medic.
inal, mechanical and scientific uses
OF liquor, wherein the people are un.
der the necessity of paying internal
revenue. Whisky and tobacco are
In no sense necessary and indispen.
sable articles Of consumption except
In the sense Of medicines, &c. as
above, which uses are inconsiderable
and trifiing, compared with the moro
than foolish uses OF both. Tobacco
can hardly be said to have any use
lui purpose. Alcohol undoubtedly
has (although now disputed by prohi-
bition fanatics) legitimate and proper
uses, but certainly not necessary
uses as a beverage.
Now l would not be understood "a
disputing any mans right to use to.
oacco and whisky if he desires to do
80, for l claim the right to do so nv.
self, without let or hindrance, as
long as do so without inJuring my
neighbor; but do mean TO say that
In the vast majority of cases, no man
is necessitated to pay internal reye.
nue. on these articles; therefore I be.
leve it better TO raise portion of the
revenue in this way than 10 raise it
on sugar, rice, iron blankets-articles
oil prime necessity. Herein lies the
secret, in one aspect, of what is called
the Randall policy.-the policy of
protection-free whisky and tobacco,
and dutied sugar, rice, cotton and
WOODEN goods and manufactures of
iron and steel and even iron ore.
Major Stalnaker, who is a promi.
nent manufacturer. serves notice on
the Democratic party that unless his
ideas are adopted he shall be no lon.
ger Democrat 1t occurs to me
that IL he is correctly reported, he is
even now mo longer Democrat as
he seems more anxious to direct the
future policy of the Republican party
on the tariff question and point out
the way to party success than TO as.
sist the Democratic party. All can
say is that if Mr.. Stalnaker is right
1t must be what is termed 'progres.
sive Democracy as [ have not so
learned Democracy although / have
been voting with the Democrats con
stantly and unwaveriDgly for nearly
forty years.
was impelled to write this article
under the belief that it is not possi.
BILE longer, as a party, to occupy
doubtful or uncertain ground on this
tariff issue. It lie really the para
mount issue in American politics TO-
day. 1t must be met. Whatever
Legislation is enacted, whatever pol.
icy is adopted upon this question is
necessarily of general and not of local
character. Tariff laws, owing TO the
distribution OF the business in this
country, may be apparently local in
their effect, yet they are none the less
general in their nature and character
and parties will be forced to take an
intelligent and open stand. II we
are protectiOnists in the current &C
ceptatiOn OF the term-if We believe
In tariff with protection as the OBJ.
jet and revenue az the incident then
let us say 90 and be Republicans but
II We believe, as / understand De
mocracy in tariff with revenue as
the object, and protection the Incl.
dent, a tariff so adjusted within and
by the limits Of the honest and eco.
nomical wants Of the government, a.
to encourage and protect home IN.
dustries, without discrimination and
without preference as far as can be
done, then We are Democrats Of the
ancient type, and our position can be
understood and will be endorsed bv
l 81